Wheel weight assembly for a tractor

ABSTRACT

Individual, ring-shaped wheel weights are provided as ballast for increasing the traction of a tractor. The weights are constructed to be mounted coaxially, one against the other, in numbers sufficient to supply the ballast desired. The first weight mounted is bolted to the outer face of the wheel disc and the weights added thereafter are secured in succession only to the adjacent previously mounted weight. The connection between the adjacent weights is effected by a pair of interengaged hook and shoulder connection parts in cooperation with a bolt which is inserted into and held by a nut in an opening formed by cooperating, U-shaped grooves in the adjacent weights. The hooks, shoulders and grooves are so disposed relative to each other that by tightening the nut on the bolt the hooks of the weight being mounted become tightly engaged with the shoulders of the adjacent mounted weight.

United States Patent Barth et al.

[ Feb. 22, 1972 OTHER PUBLICATIONS German Printed App. No. 1,279,496Oct. 1968. German Printed App. No. 1,263,520 Mar. 1968.

Primary Examiner-Richard J. Johnson Individual, ring-shaped wheelweights are provided as ballast Attorney-H. Vincent Harsha, Harold M.Knoth, William A. Murray, John M. Nolan, Raymond L. Hollister and JimmieR. Oaks ABSTRACT for increasing the traction of a tractor. The weightsare constructed to be mounted coaxially, one against the other, in

numbers sufficient to supply the ballast desired. The first weight m andthe weights added thereafter are secured in succession only to theadjacent previously mounted weight. The connecounted is bolted to theouter face of the wheel disc tion between the adjacent weights iseffected by a pair of interengaged hook and shoulder connection parts incooperation with a bolt which is inserted into and held by a nut in anopening formed by cooperating, U-shaped grooves in the adjacent weights.The books, shoulders and grooves are so disposed relative to each otherthat by tightening the nut on the bolt the hooks of the weight beingmounted become tightly FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Australia..301/41 W engaged with the shoulders of the adjacent mounted weight.

15 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 22 me I NVENTORS HUBERT BARTHKLAUS HAUK tightening a nut WHEEL WEIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR A TRACTORBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a wheel weightassembly, and more particularly relates to an assembly of the typewherein selected numbers of individual weights are mounted inside-toside engagement on the outer face of a wheel disc.

A wheel weight assembly of this type is known (West German Pat. No.1,279,496) in which the individual weights are provided, on their sidefacing away from the wheel disc, with projecting peripheral portions inthe form of annular carrier rims, and on their sides facing the wheeldisc, with an annular flange cast integrally with the weight and adaptedto be supportingly engaged with the carrier rims of an adjacent weight.The carrier rim has an obliquely inclined and roughened inner surfaceand is spaced apart from and surrounds an axially projecting conicalflange which serves for the mutual centering of the weights. The conicalflange is provided with a central bore for receiving a special fasteningscrew which has a threaded bore in its head for receiving a likefastening screw for securing an adjacent subsequently mounted weight.

This known arrangement has the disadvantage that the opposed engagingsurfaces of adjacent weights do not cooperate to prevent a weight whichhas just been engaged with a mounted weight from slipping therefrom, andsince the operator must use at least one hand to insert the fasteningscrew, it is difficult for the operator to apply enough force to preventsuch slipping. A further disadvantage is that only the outermostfastening screw can be retightened once the weights are assembled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there isprovided a novel wheel weight assembly of the type wherein a desirednumber of individual weights are supported on a wheel disc with thefirst weight being secured directly to the outer face of the wheel discand the other being added one at a time and secured to the previouslymounted weight to form an assembly of side-to-side mounted weights.

It is an object of the invention to provide individual weights which areflat and circular and which have hook and shoulder parts on theiropposite sides, the hook parts, of a weight being mounted. beingdisposed to engage and hangingly support the weight from shoulder partsof an adjacent mounted weight so as to free both hands of an operatorfor completing the fastening of the weight to the mounted weight.

Another object is to provide weights, having in addition to the hook andshoulder parts, U-shaped grooves in their opposite sides and wherein thegroove of a weight being mounted is axially aligned with a groove of theadjacent mounted weight and cooperates therewith to provide a receptaclefor a clamping bolt for securing the weights together.

Still another object is to dispose the hood and shoulder parts and thegrooves in such relationship to each other that upon on the clampingbolt, the opposed hook and shoulder parts of the adjacent weights willbecome more securely interlocked.

Another object is to provide clamping bolts, each of which isresponsible for securing only a single weight, and which are sopositioned that nuts thereon may be retightened regardless of the boltslocation in the weight assembly.

Yet another object is to provide weights which include connections forsecuring them to the wheel disc and having centering parts so that anyweight may be selected as the first to be mounted on the wheel disc andmay be centered with respect to the wheel axis.

These and other objects will become apparent from the ensuringdescription and the appended drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a front view ofa wheel weightmounted on a wheel disc.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 butshowing weights in addition to the first mounted weight.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing,there is partly shown a wheel disc 10, which forms, for example, part ofa rear tractor wheel. A ring-shaped wheel weight 12 is detachablyfastened to the disc 10 and for this purpose includes three equispaced,radial recesses 14 along its inner circumference. The recesses 14 eachinclude opposed conical surfaces 16 and 18 which converge towards eachother from the opposite sides of the weight 12 and receive conicalcentering washers 20. Extending through the washers 20 and through thewheel discs 10 are bolts 22 which are held in place by nuts 24. When thenuts 24 are properly tightened. the washers 20 act against the surfaces16 and 18 to dispose the weight 12 in centered relationship to the axisof the wheel disc 10.

The ballast carried by the wheel disc 10 may be increased from thatprovided by the weight 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, by connectingadditional identical weights l2 successively one to another until thedesired amount of ballast is assembled. For this purpose, each of theweights 12 is constructed such that neighboring weights cooperate toform three points of connection.

Specifically, on the inner side of each of the weights 12, there is apair of hooks 26 spaced approximately from each other about the axis ofthe weight, and on the outer side of the weight is a pair of similarlyspaced shoulders 28. The hooks 26 are arranged to hangingly suspend aweight being mounted from the shoulders 28 of a neighboring mountedweight, thus forming two points of connection. As can best be seen inFIGS. 1 and 3, the hooks 26 and shoulders 28 are similarly inclined andthe pair of interfaces of the engaged surfaces of the hooks andshoulders of neighboring pairs of weights are tangent to a conicalsurface generated about and having its apex on the weight axis. Thisinclination operates to center the neighboring weights with relation toeach other. Centering is further aided' by a recess 30 and a nose 32,respectively on the inner and outer sides of the weight 12 midwaybetween the pair of hooks 26 and the pair of shoulders 28. The nose 32is shaped complementary to the recess 30 and, in the case of neighboringweights, the nose of one weight is located in the recess of the otherweight.

Diametrically opposite from the recess 30 and the nose 32 andrespectively on the same sides of the weight 12 are a pair of parallel,U-shaped grooves 34 and 36. One end of the groove 34 terminates at ashoulder 38 located along the inner circumference of the weight 12 andone end of the groove 36 terminates at a shoulder 40 in a recess 42located along the outer circumference of the weight 12.

In the case of neighboring weights 12, the groove 34 of one weight is inalignment with the groove 36 of the other weight to form an opening withthe shoulders 38 and 40 at the opposite ends thereof. The neighboringweights are held together by a clamping bolt 34 which is inserted intothe opening so that ahead at one end bears against the shoulder 40 and anut 46 at the other end bears against the shoulder 38. The recess 42 isdimensioned to engage the head of the bolt 44 and prevent it fromturning when the nut 46 is tightened. The aligned grooves 34 and 36 areinclined axially and radially toward a point of intersection with theaxis of the weight 12. This inclination is steeper with respect to theaxis than that of the interfaces of the engaged pairs of hooks 26 andshoulders 28, and when the nut 46 is tightened, the hooks become moretightly engaged with the shoulders. To insure that there will always bean area contact between engaging surfaces of the hooks 26 and theshoulders 28, each of the weights 12 is provided at its outer side witha bearing surface 48 located diametrically opposite from the recess 32.

To facilitate handling of the weights 12, they are provided withdiametrically opposite handhold cutouts 50 from which recessed portions52 extend at the inner surface of the weights to provide clearancebetween a mounted weight and weights being mounted or dismounted toprevent a handler from pinching his fingers.

The wheel weights 12 are assembled for support by the wheel disc asfollows:

Assuming that it is desired to mount ballast to the disc 10 amounting tothe combined weight of three of the weights 12, a first weight 12 isselected for connection directly to the outer face of the wheel disc 10.Three bolts 22 are then inserted into the respective openings providedfor them in the wheel disc 10. A pair of the centering washers areplaced on each bolt and the nuts 24 are started on the bolts. The firstweight 12 is then lifted into position with the pairs of conicalcentering washers 20 on each bolt being received in the conical surfaces16 and 18 provided at the opposite sides of the weights in the recesses14. The nuts 24 are then tightened so that the washers 20 act againstthe surfaces 16 and 18 to center the first weight with respect to thewheel axis.

The wheel disc 10 is then rotated about the wheel axis to position thefirst wheel weight 12 so that the pair of shoulders 28 are above thewheel axis and are equispaced to the opposite sides of the verticalplane containing the axis. A second weight is then lifted by grippingthe handhold cutouts 50 and is hangingly suspended on the first weightby engaging the hooks 26 of the second weight with the shoulders 28 ofthe first weight.

Since the pair of interfaces between the engaged hooks 26 and shoulders28 are inclined and converge downwardly toward the wheel axis, the forceof gravity acts to keep the hook and shoulders engaged, thus permittingthe operator to release both hands from the handhold cutouts. Theinclination of the hooks and shoulders acts to center the weights withrespect to each other and the wheel axis. The first and second weightsare then secured together by inserting one of the clamping bolts 44together with a nut 46 into the U-shaped grooves 34 and 36 of the firstand second weights respectively. This is accomplished by merely pullingthe bottom portion of the second weight slightly away from the firstweight. Alternatively, the nut 46 may first be removed from the bolt 44permitting the bolt to be inserted upwardly into the grooves 34 and 36without the second weight being swung from the first. At this time thenut 46 is tightened, and since the head of the bolt is received in therecess 42, it is kept from turning. Since the inclination of the bolt 44is greater with respect to the wheel axis than that of the hooks andshoulders, the hooks and shoulders will become more tightly engaged bytightening the nut 46. The third weight can then be connected to thesecond weight in the above-described manner.

It is to be noted that the nuts 46 are accessible from the inside of thering-shaped weights l2 and may be retightened, regardless oftheirposition in the assembled weights.

What is claimed is:

l. A multiple weight assembly in the class described, comprising: afirst weight having mounting means for the affixation thereof to asupport or the like; said first weight having an outer side and beingprovided thereat with a pair of shoulders; said shoulders respectivelyincluding a pair of spaced apart engaging surfaces which are upwardlyfacing and are inclined to converge downwardly toward the weight innerside when the first weight is in a position for assembly; a secondweight outwardly of said first weight and having an inner side and beingprovided thereat with a pair of hooks respectively having downwardlyfacing surfaces inclined parallel to and engaged with said upwardlyfacing surfaces of said shoulders of said first weight; whereby saidsecond weight may be hangingly suspended from said first weight to freeboth hands of the operator; a first, upwardly inclined groove in theouter side of said first weight located below and vertically betweensaid first pair of shoulders; a second upwardly inclined groove in saidinner side of said second weight located below and vertically betweensaid pair of hooks and being axially aligned with said first groove; anda clamping bolt inserted into said grooves and having a nut tightened onone end thereof so as to secure the first and second weights together.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the inclination of saidgrooves is steeper than the inclination of thc engaged hook and shouldersurfaces whereby said hook and shoulder surfaces will become moretightly engaged when said nut is tightened.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second weightsinclude upper and lower edges with respect to their position when beingmounted; a central opening in each of the first and second weightsbetween their upper and lower edges, and the upper end of said groove inthe inner face of said second weight opening into said opening; saidbolt being inserted into the last-mentioned groove such that the nut islocated at the upper end thereof whereby said nut is accessible and maybe tightened through said opening.

4. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the inner and outer sides ofsaid first and second weights are generally planar and the hooks andshoulders of the weights are arranged such as to permit the weights tobe assembled in sideto-side engagement.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said weights are circularand wherein said engaged surfaces of the pairs of hooks and shouldersconverge toward a common point on the axis of the weights.

6. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein said engaged surfaces ofsaid pairs of hooks and shoulders are angularly spaced approximatelyabout the axis of the weight.

7. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein the weights are ring-shaped,thus defining a central opening therein between their upper and loweredges, and the upper end of said groove in the inner face of said secondweight opening into said opening; said bolt being inserted into thelast-mentioned groove such that said nut is located at the upper endthereof whereby said nut is accessible and may be tightened through saidopening.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said first and secondweights are identical whereby they may be mounted in any order in theassemblyv 9. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said mountingmeans includes at least three equispaced recesses in the innercircumference of said ring-shaped weights, said recesses each includinga pair of axially aligned conical surfaces converging towards each otherfrom the inner and outer sides of the weights; conical centering washerslocated in said conical surfaces of said first weight and bolts insertedinto said washers and being adapted for insertion into said support; andnuts on the bolts.

10. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the interfaces of theengaged surfaces are inclined towards a common point on a horizontalaxis extending perpendicular to the inner and outer sides of said firstand second weight elements and are tangent to the surface of a conegenerated about the axis and having its apex at said common point.

11. A multiple weight assembly in the class described, comprising: afirst weight having mounting means for the affixation thereof to asupport or the like; and first weight having an outer side and beingprovided thereat with a pair of spaced apart shoulders; said shouldersrespectively including a pair of engaging surfaces which are upwardlyfacing and are inclined to converge downwardly toward the weight innerside when the first weight is in a position for assembly; a secondweight outwardly of said first weight and having an inner side and beingprovided thereat with a pair of hooks respectively having downwardlyfacing surfaces inclined parallel to and engaged with said upwardlyfacing surfaces of said shoulders of said first weight; whereby saidsecond weight may be hangingly suspended from said first weight to freeboth hands of the operator, and clamping means securing said secondweight to said first weight and serving as the sole connection betweensaid first and second weights.

12. The invention defined in claim 11 wherein the interfaces of theengaged surfaces are inclined towards a common point on a horizontalaxis extending perpendicular to the inner and outer sides of said firstand second weight elements and are are circular and wherein said engagedsurfaces of the pairs of hooks and shoulders converge toward a commonpoint on the axis of the weights.

15. The invention defined in claim 14 wherein said engaged surfaces ofsaid pairs of hooks and shoulders are angularly spaced approximatelyabout the axis of the weight.

1. A multiple weight assembly in the class described, comprising: afirst weight having mounting means for the affixation thereof to asupport or the like; said first weight having an outer side and beingprovided thereat with a pair of shoulders; said shoulders respectivelyincluding a pair of spaced apart engaging surfaces which are upwardlyfacing and are inclined to converge downwardly toward the weight innerside when the first weight is in a position for assembly; a secondweight outwardly of said first weight and having an inner side and beingprovided thereat with a pair of hooks respectively having downwardlyfacing surfaces inclined parallel to and engaged with said upwardlyfacing surfaces of said shoulders of said first weight; whereby saidsecond weight may be hangingly suspended from said first weight to freeboth hands of the operator; a first, upwardly inclined groove in theouter side of said first weight located below and vertically betweensaid first pair of shoulders; a second upwardly inclined groove in saidinner side of said second weight located below and vertically betweensaid pair of hooks and being axially aligned with said first groove; anda clamping bolt inserted into said grooves and having a nut tightened onone end thereof so as to secure the first and second weights together.2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the inclination of saidgrooves is steeper than the inclination of the engaged hook and shouldersurfaces whereby said hook and shoulder surfaces will become moretightly engaged when said nut is tightened.
 3. The invention defined inclaim 1 wherein the first and second weights include upper and loweredges with respect to their position when being mounted; a centralopening in each of the first and second weights between their upper andlower edges, and the upper end of said groove in the inner face of saidsecond weight opening into said opening; said bolt being inserted intothe last-mentioned groove such that the nut is located at the upper endthereof whereby said nut is accessible and may be tightened through saidopening.
 4. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the inner and outersides of said first and second weights are generally planar and thehooks and shoulders of the weights are arranged such as to permit theweights to be assembled in side-to-side engagement.
 5. The inventiondefined in claim 4 wherein said weights are circular and wherein saidengaged surfaces of the pairs of hooks and shoulders converge toward acommon point on the axis of the weights.
 6. The invention defined inclaim 5 wherein said engaged surfaces of said pairs of hooks andshoulders are angularly spaced approximately 90* about the axis of theweight.
 7. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein the weights arering-shaped, thus defining a central opening therein between their upperand lower edges, and the upper end of said groove in the inner face ofsaid second weight opening into said opening; said bolt being insertedinto the last-mentioned groove such that said nut is located at theupper end thereof whereby said nut is accessible and may be tightenedthrough said opening.
 8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein saidfirst and second weights are identical whereby they may be mounted inany order in the assembly.
 9. The invention defineD in claim 8 whereinsaid mounting means includes at least three equispaced recesses in theinner circumference of said ring-shaped weights, said recesses eachincluding a pair of axially aligned conical surfaces converging towardseach other from the inner and outer sides of the weights; conicalcentering washers located in said conical surfaces of said first weightand bolts inserted into said washers and being adapted for insertioninto said support; and nuts on the bolts.
 10. The invention defined inclaim 1 wherein the interfaces of the engaged surfaces are inclinedtowards a common point on a horizontal axis extending perpendicular tothe inner and outer sides of said first and second weight elements andare tangent to the surface of a cone generated about the axis and havingits apex at said common point.
 11. A multiple weight assembly in theclass described, comprising: a first weight having mounting means forthe affixation thereof to a support or the like; and first weight havingan outer side and being provided thereat with a pair of spaced apartshoulders; said shoulders respectively including a pair of engagingsurfaces which are upwardly facing and are inclined to convergedownwardly toward the weight inner side when the first weight is in aposition for assembly; a second weight outwardly of said first weightand having an inner side and being provided thereat with a pair of hooksrespectively having downwardly facing surfaces inclined parallel to andengaged with said upwardly facing surfaces of said shoulders of saidfirst weight; whereby said second weight may be hangingly suspended fromsaid first weight to free both hands of the operator, and clamping meanssecuring said second weight to said first weight and serving as the soleconnection between said first and second weights.
 12. The inventiondefined in claim 11 wherein the interfaces of the engaged surfaces areinclined towards a common point on a horizontal axis extendingperpendicular to the inner and outer sides of said first and secondweight elements and are tangent to the surface of a cone generated aboutthe axis and having its apex at said common point.
 13. The inventiondefined in claim 11 wherein the inner and outer sides of said first andsecond weights are generally planar and the hooks and shoulders of theweights are arranged such as to permit the weights to be assembled inside-to-side engagement.
 14. The invention defined in claim 13 whereinsaid weights are circular and wherein said engaged surfaces of the pairsof hooks and shoulders converge toward a common point on the axis of theweights.
 15. The invention defined in claim 14 wherein said engagedsurfaces of said pairs of hooks and shoulders are angularly spacedapproximately 90* about the axis of the weight.